Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy New (Church) Year! Each Advent, we disciples begin a new liturgical year. Our Lectionary Cycle (i.e., the Sunday Gospel readings) changes to Year C, which means most of our Gospel readings this year will come from the Gospel according to St. Luke. Luke was a physician by trade who did not grow up in the Jewish faith. He was a Gentile converted to Christianity and became a companion of St. Paul. In addition to composing his Gospel account, Saint Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles, a sort-of “sequel” to his Gospel. Although St. Paul wrote more books, Luke’s two contributions are long enough that they actually make up a greater percentage of the New Testament (about 24%) than those of any other author. Because of his emphasis on the Virgin Mary and women in general, St. Luke has been called the “Marian Gospel” and the “Gospel of women.” Luke is also known to emphasize Jesus’ love of the poor and sick. His Gospel has additionally been called the “Gospel of mercy” and the “Gospel of forgiveness.” Pay special attention to these attributes as we make our way through Luke’s amazing Gospel.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Be thankful: This Thursday, November 25, we will have a special Mass at 9:00am in the church for Thanksgiving Day. (Note that there will be no confessions nor a 5:30pm Mass this day.) As is our custom, a collection will be taken up at this Mass, all of which will go to benefit the poor and those in need.

Today, we “crown” our liturgical year with this Solemnity of Jesus Christ the King. Next Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent and a new liturgical year – Year C in the Lectionary cycle. During Year C, most of the Sunday Gospels will come from St. Luke. Advent marks the perfect time to make a new spiritual beginning with new spiritual resolutions. Begin with real, concrete, dedicated time for prayer. Everything else will flow from that.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Please note that beginning the 1st Sunday of Advent (November 28), the time for the Mass in Spanish will move from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. This will ease the “pressure” of the transition between Masses and give more time for confessions and the holy rosary before Mass.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has learned how to lovingly and respectfully say goodbye to our dearly departed loved ones. Together with our Jewish roots, the Church truly knows how to help people grieve. Remember, it’s ok to mourn. Even Jesus wept at the death of His friend, Lazarus. (See John 11:35.)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.” – 1 Corinthians 15:19

Inserted in this weekend’s bulletin is To Rise With Christ – Regarding the Burial of the Deceased and the Conservation of the Ashes in the Case of Cremation. It is always good for us to remind ourselves what we believe and why. After all, each of us will one day pass through the door of death.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Don’t miss Requiem by Gabriel Fauré, a concert by the Columbia Choral Society together with the Aiken Civic Orchestra on All Souls Day, November 2 at 7pm in the church. Tickets are $20 (all students are free) and available at the parish office or at the door on the night of the concert.

While Halloween gets a lot of secular attention, the real celebration is not about witches, devils, and zombies, but about Saints – the inspiring men and women who lived holy lives for Jesus Christ and now live forever in Him. “Halloween” comes from older English meaning the night before – or Eve – of All Hallows Day – or All Saints Day. (Think “hallowed ground,” meaning “holy ground,” and “hallowed be thy name,” i.e., “holy is your name.”)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For a few years now, one of our parishioners, Alejandro(Alex) Leguizamon, has been participating in our diocesandiaconate training program. A couple of weeks ago, hepassed one of the milestones in his training and was officiallyinstalled as an Acolyte in the Church. Soon, you will beseeing Alex at various Masses, mostly acting as lector andhelping in the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass.Acolytes are sort of the “top-level” of extraordinaryministers, being the only extraordinary ones officiallyinstalled for the universal Church. (All other EM’s are onlycommissioned in individual parishes.)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we begin Respect Life Month, here are some thoughts for us to ponder. Life is such a miracle! Give thanks to God, who holds all things in existence, for your existence – for your life. Every child conceived is loved first by Him. – Father Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Milo, Sparky, Precious, and Champ need blessings, too. Even horses, llamas, iguanas, and geckos. All animals of every species are welcome to our annual Blessing of the Animals this year on Saturday, October 2 at 10:00am on the rectory lawn (corner of Park Ave. and York St. next to Old St. Mary’s). (The blessing occurs annually on or near the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the many things I was able to pray about on my recent retreat was how truly blessed I am to be here at St. Mary’s among such faith-filled, wonderful people. As promised, I prayed for you every day and specifically offered Masses for you and for your intentions over the thirty days. As many of you have expressed your thanks at my return, know that I return that gratitude and love to you all – the infinite, healing love the Sacred Heart of Jesus offers each of us. I realize what a true privilege it is to be able to be away for a full thirty days for such a retreat. This was due to the generosity of many others that made it possible. I’m extremely grateful to Fr. Francisco, Msgr. Willie, our deacons, and our dedicated staff for “holding down the fort” while I was away. To all who helped – thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Dear St. Mary’s family,

This is the 24th Sunday in ordinary time and on Tuesday, we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross to honor the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

The Story of this liturgical Feast:

Early in the fourth century, Saint Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ’s life. She demolished the 2nd century Temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior’s tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher on that same spot. During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman.

The cross immediately became for all believers an object of veneration. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem toward the end of the 4th century, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table: Then, “all the people pass through one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on.”